It saved a lot of time and money. 

Find a house for sale where the owner owes no money (nationally, about 40% of homes are owned free and clear).  

Private money lenders, search on Facebook groups and meetups and they can fund it but interest would be around 12 percent though and they may look for collateral

If they have the money, they have the money.

If so, lending this money puts his home and, presumably, his family at risk.

I don't know you're strategy but take caution when spending this money.

@Melissa Odom private money has been awesome for me and helped me grow my portfolio tremendously.We used it to do BRRRR where we bought the property with private money, rehabbed it with that money too and refinanced as soon as we could to get them their money back.Our private money lender was happy because they made their return and didn't have any worries because we were an easy borrower.

First, I would see what I could do with the property to make money as others have suggested.

@Tonia EdgestonIf it’s non owner occupied you could get a hard money loan to pay back taxes and repairs but these are short term (typically 6-12 months) then you would need to refinance the propertyYou mention this is also in probate - depending also on other debts etc it all may be for not and you may need to sell to pay off other creditors.

., this I think is longer term implosions as I am seeing people who absolutely should not be buying a home as they have no money buy them sub-to because of little down payment and will eventually lose the property and that is when many whose mortgages are still on the property come out and sue.